Assessment Brief and Feedback Form

Module title: Organisational Behaviour

Assessment Point: Second Assessment Point
Assessment task: Essay
Word count limit: 3000 words
Submission deadline: Please consult VLE.
Submission procedure: Please submit via the submission link on VLE.
Submission Record
Extenuating circumstances
Ensure you are familiar with the process for submitting a claim for extenuating
circumstances. If you experience any extenuating circumstances that may have affected
your ability to attempt or submit the present assignment, please follow relevant
instructions on VLE in order to submit your claim for extenuating circumstance prior
to your submission deadline.
Academic misconduct including plagiarism
Ensure that you are familiar with the relevant regulations regarding academic
misconduct. By submitting the present assignment you declare that it is your own work
and that the material and sources of information used, including internet sources, have
been fully identified and properly acknowledged. In addition, you confirm that the
presented work has not been submitted for any other assessment. You also acknowledge
that the faculty reserves the right to investigate allegations of plagiarism and other forms
of academic misconduct which, if proven and dependent on the severity level of the
offence, will result in a penalty that may affect your progress.
Late submissions
Note that all work handed in up to 3 working days after the submission deadline will be
accepted and marked but the mark will be capped at 50% (if the work passes), unless
you have been granted an extension to the submission deadline or a deferral in
accordance with the Extenuating Circumstances Policy. Work submitted more than 3
working days after the submission deadline without a granted extension to the
submission deadline or a deferral in accordance with the Extenuating Circumstances
Policy will not be accepted and will be recorded as 0%.
By submitting your work you acknowledge that you have read and agreed with the
above statements.
 General Guidance
Your assignment should be MS Word processed (handwritten assignments are not
accepted), using Times New Roman size 12 font, double spaced, with numbered pages
and your student number printed as a footer on every page. Note this is an essay type
academic piece of work and you should adhere to these rules.
The word limits stated for this assignment excludes the reference list at the end of the
assignment but includes all text in the main body of the assignment (including direct
quotations, in-text citations, footnotes, tables, diagrams and graphs).
Please be aware that exceeding the word limit will affect the academic judgement of the
piece of work and may result in the award of a lower mark.
Appendices are not considered a supplement thus will not be assessed as part of the
content of the assignment. As such, they will not contribute to the grade awarded,
however it may be appropriate to use an Appendices section for any material which is
a useful reference for the reader. Please note that appendices are not included in the
word count.
The majority of references should come from primary sources (e.g. journal articles,
conference papers, reports, etc.) although you can also utilise area specific textbooks.
You must ensure that you use the University of Suffolk’s Harvard style of referencing.
Please indicate the word count length at the end of your assignment.
Marking and assessment
This assignment will be marked out of 100%.
This assignment contributes to 70% of the total module marks.
Learning outcomes assessed in this assessment
1. Demonstrate the anthropological and social significance of organization as well as its
more familiar economic purposes.
2. Draw critically upon a variety of academic perspectives - including economics,
sociology, and psychology - to help better understand behaviour within and between
organizations.
3. Explore and evaluate the ways in which management theory and practice have
evolved over the past century.
4. Demonstrate that management can be usefully conceptualised in multiple ways,
sometimes as a science, sometimes as a practice and sometimes as a craft. In so doing,
students will be able to demonstrate the ways in which management both as knowledge
and practice can be tailored to address specific employee needs, group dynamics,
organizational culture, as well as broader industrial and competitive pressures.
5. Critically explore and evaluate the complex relationships between employer,
employee, technology and ethics.
Assessment Guidelines
A 3000 word essay covering management as an inter-disciplinary pursuit. Application
of contemporary relevant theoretical concepts in organisational context required, in
particular if dealt with a controversial business activity.
Task
Please, choose one of the following three topics. The essay should be entirely your own
work, and up to 3000 words in length. The essay is worth 70% of your total mark for
the module.

1. Using the Rana Plaza case study (week 8), consider the implications of the
involvement of MNCs (for example through CSR and sustainable ethical
processes) in regulating working conditions at the international level. What are
the policy implications for nation states, employers and workers? You may wish
to elaborate on a developing country of your choice (but you do not have to)
where employment relations practices suffer from significant shortcomings and
require immediate interventions from the state, employers or other stakeholders.

2. “With the UK facing a period of political and economic uncertainty, strong and
inclusive leadership is more important than ever” (Chartered Management
Institute, 2016). That said, “every organisation is subject to multiple forces –
politics, economics, society and technology – over which the leader has no
discernible control” (Vine, 2016).

Critically discuss these two mutually exclusive approaches, drawing upon the
relevant theory taught on the course with support from credible evidence
applicable to chosen organisational context.

3. Using an appropriate example from your own organisation, analyse the

implications for the management of organisational behaviour of the introduction
of new technologies (e.g. robotics or artificial intelligence). Consider critically
what may motivate employers, employees, customers and possibly other key
stakeholders to use the new technology and discuss any ethics issues which may
be associated with it.
Note the suggested structure for your essay:
Section/aspect Content to cover Marks available
Introduction General background on the 10 Marks
400 words topic you are going to discuss.
Possible definitions for terms
relating to the question.
What the essay will include
and/or leave out (scope).
What themes the essay will
discuss and the order they are
presented.
What the essay will argue /
demonstrate (thesis statement).
Main Body The following structure can be 60 Marks
2200 words used for discussion of the themes
that you have identified:
T - topic (sentence to introduce
the theme or topic of the
paragraph)
E - example (you could mention
an example here to focus the
topic)
S - support (bring in supporting
information from your research /
eg. theory, research studies,
statistics, legislation,
professional guidelines,
examples from practice)
T - talk about the ideas
(strengths, weaknesses,
importance, relevance,
usefulness, comparison to other
ideas). Evaluation and critical
discussion of the supporting
materials and how they relate to
the question under scrutiny -
keep the discussion focused on
answering the question in the
essay title.
Conclusions Links back to the themes 15 Marks
400 words identified in the introduction.
A reminder of what the essay has
argued.
A recap of the main themes that
have been discussed.
 A summary of the most
important points made in the
essay.
Speculation on future
developments in the area that the
essay has discussed.
(Generally new ideas and
citations should not be included
in a conclusion)
Formatting and High quality presentation of the 15 Marks
Referencing material that conforms to
(list of references not principles of academic writing
included in word and contains minimal errors in
count) sentence construction, grammar
and punctuation. The
assignment followed
appropriate academic
conventions regarding in-text
citations and referencing.
Total: 3000 words 100
Marks
Marking Criteria
Level 7
In accordance with the FHEQ, at the end of Level 7 students should have a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical
awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field
of study or area of professional practice. They will be able to demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a
practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the
discipline. They should have a conceptual understanding that enables them to evaluate critically current research and advanced
scholarship in the discipline and to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new
hypotheses. They will also be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the
absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences. In addition, they will be
able to demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing
tasks at a professional or equivalent level.
Assessment category
Coherent and Cognitive and intellectual skills Application of theory to Reading and referencing Presentation, style and
detailed knowledge practice (for courses with a structure
and understanding of professional practice element) Work that significantly
the subject area, at exceeds the specified
least some of which is THIS ASSESSMENT word limit may be
informed by the latest penalized
research and/or CATEGORY IS NOT
advanced scholarship APPLICABLE
within the discipline
Exemplary Exceptional critical Sophisticated, A very high level of Exemplary
systematic, evaluation and systematic and critical engagement presentation of
Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes

theoretical and awareness of current innovative application of across a systematic work that is fluent
conceptual problems, and knowledge and theory to and fully appropriate and flawless
understanding of contemporary issues and professional practice range of relevant and throughout.
90%-100%

knowledge at or debates that draws on within the discipline. current academic,

informed by the new insights or Flawless use of research, policy- and
forefront of the perspectives within the systematically selected practice-related
field of study, field. Work literature to justify and literature
demonstrating demonstrates exemplary express reasoned demonstrating deep
highly ability to synthesise judgements and and selective reading
sophisticated current research and decisions in relation to and initiative along
grasp of the advanced scholarship in complex issues and with highly
subject matter an original, creative and problems at a consistent accurate
innovative manner. professional level referencing
Excellent Sophisticated critical An excellent level of A very high level of Outstanding
systematic, evaluation and originality and critical engagement presentation of
theoretical and awareness of current innovation in the across an extensive work that is
conceptual problems, and application of range of relevant and logically and
understanding of contemporary issues and knowledge and theory to current academic, coherently
knowledge at or debates that draws on professional practice research, policy- and structured with a
informed by the new insights or within the discipline. practice-related strong or original
forefront of the perspectives within the Demonstration of literature central
80%-89%

field of study and field. Work excellent critical demonstrating deep argument(s),
showing demonstrates a very high awareness and and appropriate conveyed with a
sophisticated level of originality and evaluation and the reading and initiative high level of
depth, breadth, creativity in the ability to effectively along with highly fluency and
detail and clarity student’s approaches to critique and employ consistent accurate eloquently
synthesising current current academic referencing communicates
research and advanced literature in making compelling,
scholarship within the reasoned judgements coherent
subject area and decisions in relation conclusions to
to complex issues and specialist and non-
problems at a specialist
professional level audiences
 Coherent and Cognitive and Application of theory to Reading and Presentation, style
detailed intellectual skills practice referencing and structure
knowledge and
Level 7 understanding THIS ASSESSMENT
CATEGORY IS NOT
APPLICABLE
A high level of A high level of critical A high level of originality A high level of Excellent
systematic, evaluation and and innovation in the critical engagement presentation of
theoretical and awareness of current application of knowledge across an extensive work that is
conceptual problems, and and theory to professional range of relevant and logically and
understanding of contemporary issues practice within the current literature coherently
knowledge at or and debates that draws discipline. Demonstration demonstrating wide structured with a
informed by the on new insights or of excellent critical and appropriate strong or original
70% – 79%

forefront of the perspectives within the awareness and evaluation reading and initiative central
field of study and field. Work and the ability to select along with highly argument(s),
Pass mark, demonstrating achievement of all associated learning outcomes

showing demonstrates a and use academic consistent accurate conveyed with a

considerable significant level of literature in making referencing high level of clarity
depth, breadth, originality and reasoned judgements and of expression and
detail and clarity creativity in decisions in relation to which clearly
synthesising current complex issues and communicates
research and advanced problems at a professional valid, coherent
scholarship within the level conclusions to
subject area specialist and non-
specialist audiences
An effective, An effective level of A good level of originality A good level of High quality
systematic, critical evaluation and and innovation in the critical engagement presentation of
theoretical and awareness of current application of knowledge across a good range work that is largely
conceptual problems and and theory to professional of relevant and logically and
understanding of contemporary issues practice. Demonstration of current academic, coherently
knowledge and debates that draws consistently good critical research, policy- and structured with a
60% – 69%

mostly at or on new insights or awareness and evaluation practice-related generally strong

informed by the perspectives within the and reasonable ability to literature central argument
forefront of the field. Work use the academic literature demonstrating conveyed with a
field of study and demonstrates some in making reasoned appropriate reading clarity of
showing good effective originality judgements and decisions and some initiative expression and
depth, breadth, and creativity in in relation to complex along with consistent which
detail and clarity synthesising current issues and problems at a accurate referencing communicates clear
research and professional level conclusions to
scholarship within the specialist and non-
subject area specialist audiences
A sufficient but A sufficient but A reasonable but limited Sufficient critical Generally good
limited level of limited level of critical level of originality and engagement with a presentation of
systematic, evaluation and innovation in the reasonable range of work that is
theoretical and awareness of current application of knowledge relevant and current sufficiently logical
conceptual problems and and theory to professional academic, research, and coherent in
understanding of contemporary issues practice within the policy- and practice- structure with a
knowledge at and debates, with discipline. Demonstration related literature discernible central
50% – 59%

times at or some reference to new of some good critical demonstrating argument. May
informed by the insights or awareness and evaluation mainly appropriate present limited
forefront of the perspectives within the and some ability to use the reading but limited originality and lack
field of study but field. Limited academic literature in initiative and/or some clarity of
showing evidence of developing judgements some minor expression, but an
adequate depth, originality and and decisions in relation to inconsistencies and identifiable
breadth, detail creativity in complex issues and inaccuracies in conclusion
and clarity synthesising current problems at a professional referencing reasonably
research and level communicated to
scholarship within the specialist and non-
subject area specialist audiences
 Coherent and Cognitive and Application of theory to Reading and Presentation, style
detailed intellectual skills practice referencing and structure
knowledge and
understanding THIS ASSESSMENT
Level 7 CATEGORY IS NOT
APPLICABLE

Knowledge and Critical evaluation is Insufficient degree of Insufficient critical Presentation of

understanding of limited or lacks originality or innovation in engagement with work shows
the subject matter awareness of current the application of relevant and current insufficient
is incomplete, problems and knowledge and theory to academic, research, organisation or
uninformed or contemporary issues professional practice policy- and practice- central argument,
limited in its and debates. within the discipline. related literature. and is lacking in
Marginal fail

45% – 49%

scholarship Insufficient reference Demonstration of poor Lack of evidence of logical and

within the field made to new insights critical awareness and wider reading or a coherent structure.
of study, or or perspectives within evaluation or a lack of lack of initiative or Poor clarity of
lacking sufficient the field, or ability to use the academic inconsistent and expression weakly
depth, breadth, insufficient evidence literature in developing inaccurate communicating to
detail or clarity of originality and judgements and decisions referencing specialist or non-
creativity in in relation to complex specialist audiences
synthesising current issues and problems at a
research and professional level
scholarship within the
subject area
Limited Insufficient evidence Little evidence of Little evidence of Often poorly
knowledge and of critical evaluation originality and innovation critical engagement presented work that
understanding of and awareness of and a significant lack of with relevant and is disorganised, has
the subject matter current problems and application of knowledge current literature. an ill-formed
shown. Work is contemporary issues and theory to professional Poor use of central argument,
not sufficiently and debates. practice demonstrating appropriate sources and lacks a logical
30% – 44%

informed by Insufficient reference little critical awareness and and/or inconsistent and coherent
scholarship to new insights or evaluation and a lack of and inaccurate structure. A lack of
within the field perspectives within the ability to use the academic referencing clarity of
of study and is field and lacking in literature to make expression or fails
insufficient in originality and judgements and decisions to communicate
depth, breadth, creativity in in relation to complex effective
detail or clarity synthesising current issues and problems at a conclusions to
research and professional level specialist or non-
scholarship within the specialist audiences
subject area
Fail

Inadequate and Descriptive work with No evidence of originality No evidence of Poorly presented
limited little or no evidence of and innovation and little to critical engagement and disorganised
knowledge and critical evaluation and no application of with relevant and work that lacks a
understanding of awareness of current knowledge and theory to current literature. logical and
the subject matter problems and professional practice. Lack of use of coherent structure,
shown. Work is contemporary issues Demonstrates no critical appropriate sources lacks a well-formed
not informed by and debates. No awareness and evaluation and inconsistent and central argument
< 30%

scholarship evidence of awareness and a distinct lack of inaccurate and shows a

within the field of new insights or ability to use the academic referencing significant lack of
of study and perspectives within the literature in an effective clarity of
significantly field. Little or no manner expression with
lacks depth, synthesis of current very weak or
breadth, detail or research and irrelevant
clarity scholarship within the conclusions, that
subject area may be incoherent
to specialist or non-
specialist audiences
Feedback form
Student Number:

Section/aspect Content to cover Marks available

Introduction General background on the 10 Marks
400 words topic you are going to discuss.
Possible definitions for terms
relating to the question.
What the essay will include
and/or leave out (scope).
What themes the essay will
discuss and the order they are
presented.
What the essay will argue /
demonstrate (thesis statement).
Main Body The following structure can be 60 Marks
2200 words used for discussion of the themes
that you have identified:
T - topic (sentence to introduce
the theme or topic of the
paragraph)
E - example (you could mention
an example here to focus the
topic)
S - support (bring in supporting
information from your research /
eg. theory, research studies,
statistics, legislation,
professional guidelines,
examples from practice)
T - talk about the ideas
(strengths, weaknesses,
importance, relevance,
usefulness, comparison to other
ideas). Evaluation and critical
discussion of the supporting
materials and how they relate to
the question under scrutiny -
 keep the discussion focused on
answering the question in the
essay title.
Conclusions Links back to the themes 15 Marks
400 words identified in the introduction.
A reminder of what the essay has
argued.
A recap of the main themes that
have been discussed.
A summary of the most
important points made in the
essay.
Speculation on future
developments in the area that the
essay has discussed.
(Generally new ideas and
citations should not be included
in a conclusion)
Formatting and High quality presentation of the 15 Marks
Referencing material that conforms to
(list of references not principles of academic writing
included in word and contains minimal errors in
count) sentence construction, grammar
and punctuation. The
assignment followed
appropriate academic
conventions regarding in-text
citations and referencing.
Total: 3000 words 100
Marks

Date: Grade: Marker’s signature:

Provisional grade subject to change and/or confirmation by the Assessment Boards.